Start 1861: I just inherited the Dutch throne

Chapter 754 Hidden dangers in the Middle East

Melbourne, Privy Council.

"The current situation in Mexico is mainly about making friends with President Díaz, but we cannot give up contacting all stakeholders in Mexico. One thing the UK does well is that it always likes to make allies everywhere, but every time its allies weaken, It will stab itself in the back, stand in the opposition of its allies, and make the opposition become Britain's new allies. It will continue to allow Britain to suck the blood of this ally for its own use."

When William IV said this, he couldn't help but think that there were too many such cases around him in his previous life.

William IV had several cousins ​​in his previous life, and several of them were the ones who knew who was rich and powerful and would help them when there were disputes between brothers.

The next generation of these cousins, that is, the uncles and uncles of William IV, also inherited this "tradition". They would step on whoever lost power and support him who gained power.Anyway, William IV understood clearly that their family's tradition kept them in an "invincible position" forever.

In fact, is this not the case politically and economically?
He is familiar with the future direction of the world, so he is naturally willing to be a person who has both sides, flattering the superior and suppressing the inferior.

Governing the country, isn't this the only way to gain greater benefits?

At present, Díaz is extremely powerful in Mexico, so the Netherlands can naturally maximize its benefits by cooperating with him. If it cooperates with the opposition, it is not just looking for trouble.

The German Empire is currently rising fastest and is unstoppable.William IV naturally knew that cooperation with them would benefit the Netherlands the most.On the contrary, the peak of Britain originally began to decline after Queen Victoria passed away in 1901. However, with the rise of Dutch maritime power, Britain was weakened. Especially in the First World War in South Africa in 1864, Britain lost nearly 10 troops. The hegemony of the Netherlands was abruptly blocked. Therefore, after the German-French War in 1870, when the Netherlands moved its capital to Melbourne, Australia, the British intimidation did not have much effect on the Netherlands. On the contrary, the Netherlands was like a deep sea with vast seas and sky for birds to fly.

British containment no longer had much effect, and the Netherlands, in turn, shrank British maritime hegemony.

Especially after the Netherlands sought dominance in the Pacific in 1871, it then competed with the United Kingdom for hegemony in the Indian Ocean in 1876. The dispute between the two countries over the Strait of Malacca worsened and became clearer. The Netherlands' position in the southern Indian Ocean became more consolidated, while the United Kingdom's position in the northern Indian Ocean With the Nicobar Islands at the southwest outlet of the Strait of Malacca, they fell into Dutch hands.

William IV and others used the pressure from Britain and France to force the Kingdom of Siam to obediently transfer Phuket Island in the northwest of the Malacca Strait to the Netherlands. This greatly increased the Netherlands' confidence in taking over export jurisdiction in the western part of the Malacca Strait.

William IV said to Defense Secretary Fox next to him: "At present, who is better and worse in the Indian Ocean strategy between us and Britain?"

Fox said sternly: "The United Kingdom currently occupies the Andaman Islands in the northern Indian Ocean, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), the Maldives Islands, part of the Seychelles Islands in West Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Prince Edward Island (in the southwestern Indian Ocean). ), South Africa, etc. Therefore, while the Indian subcontinent is still in the hands of the British, no country can shake their presence in the northern Indian Ocean."

He pointed out: "But of course we cannot underestimate ourselves. Currently, the Netherlands occupies the Australian mainland, the Indo-Nepal Islands (Dutch East Indies) including Sumatra, the Chagos Islands, and Liuwang Island. , Mauritius Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Madagascar, Northern Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya”

"Your Majesty, although the United Kingdom owns South Africa and Prince Edward Island in the southern Indian Ocean, they are both in the southwestern corners, and they are all under surveillance by Madagascar and the Kerguelen Islands."

William IV: "So, the southern Indian Ocean is in our hands?"

Fox nodded affirmatively and said: "Yes, no one can take away our power, only what we ask for from others."

William IV asked uncertainly: "Can our territories in East Oman and the United Arab Emirates be protected from British influence?"

Fox's face changed drastically. In recent years, the Netherlands has developed oil in the United Arab Emirates. The large amount of oil output has turned the originally barren land into a place for oil exploration teams from various countries to settle.

At the end of last year, the German Empire actually discovered oil in Qatar, which attracted great attention from Britain, France and other countries.

At present, the two countries have collaborated with the Ottoman Empire to conduct oil exploration in the Persian Gulf, especially in the Al-Hasa area close to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. There are people there almost every month.

William IV also told them some time ago that the Hasa region is rich in oil, so if the British, French and Ottomans continue to explore, they will find it sooner or later.

It is precisely because of this that the members of the Privy Council present felt the pressure.After all, it’s very uncomfortable to see the oil right there but unable to get it into your pocket.

Fox, the Minister of Defense, was even more helpless. "Currently, the Netherlands has deployed more than 2 troops in the United Arab Emirates and East Oman. The bicycle army occupies just as much, with more than 100 artillery pieces. In addition, we secretly keep 5 ships there. Airships, 10 battleships on rotation between East Oman and the United Arab Emirates, one of which is the steam battleship 'Persian Gulf'. In addition, the steam battleship 'Arabian Sea'

"2 troops, 100 artillery pieces, 5 airships, 10 battleships?"

William IV said: "What if I feel that I can't rest assured?"

Fox said with a grimace: "In the Persian Gulf, our Dutch navy is the largest."

William IV: "What about Germany's deployment in Qatar?"

Fox: "2000 soldiers, and three full battleships, all sailing ironclads."

William IV: "What about the Ottoman Empire? I want to know how many military emperors the Ottoman Empire deployed in the Khas region"

Fox: "They only have a few small sailing warships in Daman Port, no less than 1000 tons. In addition, on the land around Daman Port, the Ottoman Empire deployed 3000 army troops in Mubarez and 5000 in Daman. These 7000 people Mainly watch out for the Germans in Qatar and the Jews in Bahrain.”

William IV asked: "What about our UAE? I don't believe they are not wary of us?"

"There are [-] troops in Haraz, but they are from the Kingdom of Najd. Because they are too close to Riyadh, they can defend us from attacking Riyadh," Fox replied.

William IV walked to the map and laid his eyes on it.

After a long time, William IV said to Lyndon: "It seems that Istanbul is still very confident about us and has not increased its defenses in the southern part of the Persian Gulf. However, this is not a reason for us to give up seizing more oil producing areas."

Hearing this, everyone's expressions changed drastically.

Obviously, His Majesty, this is a prelude to launching an attack on the Ottoman Empire?

Prime Minister Lyndon hesitated and asked: "Your Majesty, will this benefit the British fisherman?"

William IV shook his head: "I didn't say we attacked directly."

Linden asked in confusion: "Then how to seize the oil producing areas?"

William IV pointed at the Bahrain Islands and said with a smile: "Didn't we already have a backup plan?"

Everyone looked there, their expressions changing slightly at first, and then showing signs of realization.

Because, there is the Bahrain Islands, and there are the Jews, the mortal enemies of the Arabs.

At this moment, they finally understood - killing with a borrowed knife.

(End of this chapter)